Comment on Australian PM faces backlash over royal 'knightmare'

Australian PM faces backlash over royal 'knightmare'

Sydney (AFP) - Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott was on Tuesday facing a backlash over his surprise move to knight Britain's Prince Philip which has prompted ridicule and questions about his leadership even from conservative supporters.Abbott, whose personal approval rating has plunged in recent opinion polls, said the decision to make the Duke of Edinburgh -- the 93-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II -- a knight of Australia was his own initiative for Australia Day on Monday.But it provoked anger within Abbott's Liberal-National coalition, with unnamed politicians reportedly describing the move as "stupid" and "near impossible" to explain to ordinary Australians.Liberal-National parliamentarian Warren Entsch said: "For the life of me, I can't understand why" Abbott would knight a British royal.Entsch said he was "not pushing for a change in leader, I'm looking for significant change in leadership".Sydney's Daily Telegraph, which dubbed the story "Abbott's Knightmare", quoted a government politician as saying "the feedback is horrendous".Another unnamed MP said the move was "a stupid announcement" and "manifestly amazing in the worst possible way", the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.Government frontbencher Michaelia Cash defended the call Tuesday, saying Prince Philip was "extremely deserving" for the contributions he had made to Australia over many years."The backlash will be the backlash.

 

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